Big Brothers Big Sisters Of America Board Announces New President And Chief Executive Officer

PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of T. Charles Pierson as the national mentoring organization's President and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 15, 2012. 

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Pierson comes to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America after a highly successful nine-year period as President and Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, the largest of the mentoring network's 350 nationwide affiliates based in Dallas/Fort Worth.  In addition to his extensive local agency successes, business management expertise and dedication to Big Brothers Big Sisters' mission, Pierson has served as a three-time Big Brother over the past twenty years.  Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity strong and enduring one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

"We are thrilled that Charles will be joining our national organization after such a successful tenure with Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star," said National Board Chairman Brian Jackson. "His ability to forge new partnerships and develop effective relationships with donors, along with his deep knowledge of mentoring, will allow Charles to immediately contribute to the success of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America."

During his tenure with Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, Pierson instituted a world-class focus on quality one-to-one staff-supported mentoring, supported by proven, evidence-based outcomes in academic achievement and juvenile delinquency prevention.  He established a solid track record in increasing the number of children served; child safety; developing and growing partnerships with financial supporters and other youth-serving agencies; and enhancing community engagement and collaboration, while building a highly effective agency staff.   Pierson is a strategic leader with a breadth of experience with public, private, for-profit and non-profit organizations.  His inspirational leadership has made him a respected advocate, community partner and fundraiser for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. 

"The opportunity to lead the organization that I care so deeply about is an honor and privilege," Pierson said.  "I take it as my personal responsibility in working with my agency colleagues across the country to ensure that Big Brothers Big Sisters of America continues to make great strides toward achieving indisputable impact on the lives of children through our proven staff-supported, long-term mentoring model."

Under Pierson's leadership, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star received a number of prestigious honors from the national organization, including the National Board of the Year award in 2005 and 2008, the National Agency of the Year award in 2007 and the Pinnacle award (for affiliates performing at the top of their class for two consecutive years) in 2006, 2007 and 2008.  During his tenure, the Lone Star agency completed a $35 million five-year comprehensive campaign, envisioned and created the T. Boone Pickens Mentoring Hall of Fame, and significantly increased major gifts and individual giving as a percentage of total revenue.

Prior to joining Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, Pierson led a significant business unit of PolyOne, a Chase Elastomer Corporation located in Kennedale, TX.

Pierson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Economics and a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships.  Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children ("Littles") with screened volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course.  The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization's 100-year history.  With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. Learn how you can positively impact a child's life, donate or volunteer at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters of America